Highland’s boys, Sandia Prep’s boys and Volcano Vista’s women all gained district match championship video games on Friday evening because the announcement of this 12 months’s state match brackets attracts ever nearer.

The Hornets, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, rallied within the fourth quarter to beat visiting St. Pius 61-58 within the District 5-A ultimate at Highland, they usually overcame a 39-point effort by Brian Kalb of the fourth-ranked Sartans (18-9) within the course of.

The three video games between Highland and St. Pius this season had been determined by a complete of 5 factors.

Alexis Dominguez led Highland (20-7) with 19 factors. The Hornets had been 11-of-13 from the free-throw line within the fourth quarter. Jesus Licon added 14 factors for Highland.

• At Sandia Prep, the District 5-3A participant of the 12 months, Sundevils senior ahead Alex Jeffries, tipped in a missed shot by teammate Lucas Lemons with 2 seconds left and 3A’s No. 5-ranked Sandia Prep (16-10) beat No. 7 Bosque College 63-61 in an thrilling, back-and-forth match championship sport.

“We needed Lucas to get it up on the rim, which is precisely what he did,” Jeffries mentioned. “I believed he made it, till the final second when it took that unlucky spin and he left it on the rim for me to the touch again in.”

Bosque College (20-9) had a scorching capturing first half from past the arc, and it continued into the early phases of the third quarter when Cooper Hautau’s 3 prolonged the Bobcats’ result in 38-28.

“They shot nicely all evening,” Jeffries mentioned. “They made it powerful to get again into it.”

Sandia Prep chipped away on the deficit and overtook the Bobcats late within the third quarter.

And the Sundevils prolonged that result in 61-52 with 3:20 remaining. However Bosque regrouped, and Hautau’s 4-foot baseline jumper tied the sport at 61 for Bosque College with 12 seconds remaining.

Sandia Prep known as timeout to arrange the ultimate play, the place Jeffries was not blocked out and had a clear have a look at a tip subsequent to the rim after Lemons’ shut miss.

• At Volcano Vista, the third-ranked Hawks (24-3) acquired out shortly in opposition to Rio Rancho (14-15) and rolled within the District 1-5A women match ultimate 73-43 over the Rams, who had performed Volcano Vista comparatively shut in each common season matchups.

Taejhuan Hill had 20 factors and 7 rebounds for the Hawks. Guard Religion Ortiz scored 17 for Volcano Vista.

ADVANCING: At West Mesa, the fourth-ranked Mustangs (21-7) noticed Eldorado (18-11) the primary seven factors, however West Mesa regrouped shortly and defeated the Eagles 77-55 within the District 2-5A boys semifinal.

Senior wing Sonny Ortiz scored 26 factors, together with seven 3-pointers, to guide the Mustangs. Brandon Lagunas added 20 factors in considered one of his finest video games of the season for West Mesa.

The Mustangs go to Sandia (22-5) at 6 p.m. Saturday within the 2-5A ultimate, and it is going to be the third assembly between the 2 within the final 10 days. The Matadors beat West Mesa 64-60 in extra time on Monday of this week within the 2-5A playoff sport.

• In District 6-4A, Hope Christian’s boys, ranked No. 3 in Class 4A and seeded second within the district match, beat visiting sixth-ranked Del Norte 60-50 within the semifinals. The Huskies (18-9) play at No. 1 seed Albuquerque Academy (22-3) at 6 Saturday evening.

• La Cueva’s women rolled 71-48 over visiting Sandia on Friday within the 2-5A semis. Junior guard Eva Love scored a team-best 20 factors for the Bears, 14 of them – together with 4 3s – within the first half.

La Cueva (20-7) visits No. 1 seed Farmington (24-2) at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Sydney Benally led the Matadors (21-8) with 18 factors